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REVIEW: The Walking Dead S7 E2 ‘The Well’ is a clever respite from the horrors of Negan

Last week The Walking Dead drained my soul of every last bit of optimism it contained, but this week’s ‘The Well’ could not have been further removed from that horror story. The episode themes, characters and setting were so different, in fact, it gave me whiplash.

S7 E2 ‘The Well’ is a much-needed respite from the foreboding paranoia of last week’s Negan spectacular, and yet its focus is oddly similar. While last week we examined the character of leader of the Saviours Negan contrasted with leader of Alexandria Rick, this week we met a new leader of a survivor colony. He could not be further from what we expected. In fact, he’s a buoyant, charming and (apparently) decent individual guy. Where ‘The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be’ seemed to brutally crush all semblance of hope, ‘The Well’ goes some way to restoring it. It does so magnificently.

‘The Well’ caught up with the show’s least-likely double act, Carol and Morgan, who last season found themselves being approached by strangers while wounded and stranded outside of Alexandria. The strangers, we learn later, are inhabitants of ‘The Kingdom’ – a group of survivors led by a ‘King’, the enigmatic Ezekiel. Ezekiel uses language like he is living in a fairytale, referring to Carol as a “fair maiden”, a helper as his “faithful steward” and the community as “the realm”. Oh, and he has an enormous and apparently tame tiger called Shiva. We have not seen anything like this guy on The Walking Dead before.

King Ezekiel actor Khary Payton is as magnetic in the role as Jeffrey Dean Morgan is as Negan, and could not be more of a polar opposite. He plays the role of ruler, or protector, he tells Carol later in a heart-to-heart, because the people need a leader to be happy – and to make other people happy is what makes him happy. It is the sort of conversation that has possibly never been exchanged on The Walking Dead. And if ever there was a time for it, it is now.

The scene where Carol, the ultimate survivor, comes to blows with Ezekiel, the pragmatic fantasist, is fantastic television, offering that small beacon of hope we thought was completely stomped out last week. It’s so enchanting, in fact, that even the damaged, resilient Carol seems at least a little entranced by the fairytale Ezekiel weaves.

Of course, the Kingdom is not half as perfect as its ruler would have inhabitants believe. Like the Alexandrians, they are under the thumb of Negan and the Saviours. It’s even hinted that Negan played a similar game with the Kingdom once upon a time. King Ezekiel has found a delightfully underhand means of fighting back, however, by tainting the supplies he sends to the Saviours. We know this will have to end badly for our new favourite king, but there is something wonderful about Ezekiel’s passive-aggressive compliance in a world that has so often been about open and violent rebellion.

‘The Well’ introduced us to a sanctuary that has not been seen since the introduction of Alexandria. It introduced us to a leader unlike any we would have expected in a show as cutthroat as The Walking Dead. It provided a calming cushion to fall back upon after the harrowing events of ‘The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be’. Yet it was no less interesting.

The Walking Dead is finally widening our scope of the post-apocalypse world. The decision to explore it now seems to be giving The Walking Dead a new lease of life, as the show continues to renew and rejuvenate itself like no other on television.

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6 Horror film victims that probably deserved to die…

Why is it that victims in horror films and television series always seem to be lacking a certain level of common sense? We don’t want to seem heartless or anything, but with the majority of them practically seeking their own demise, one can’t help but think that the majority of horror TV victims probably had it coming.

They say what goes around comes around, so maybe that’s what you get for doing a runner and stealing $40,000, Marion! As if that wasn’t stupid enough, the film’s leading woman then decides to stop at very creepy looking and mysteriously empty Bates Motel before agreeing to eat dinner with the incredibly shifty motel proprietor, who just so happens to have a weird obsession with taxidermy and has loud arguments with his anonymous mother… anyone with sense would have been out of there like a shot.

Sorry Marion, but you had it coming.

2. Ellison Oswalt in Sinister

“Oh, I can hear a weird noise outside. Let me go and investigate the dark depths of the night armed with nothing but a flashlight.” NO. Why do they always do this? If you’d stayed in bed none of this would happen. One character particularly prone to getting up in the middle of the night to investigate strange noises is Ellison Oswalt, a crime novelist who decided it would be a dandy idea to move into the scene of a crime so that he can complete his next writing venture. The number of times he goes up into his pitch-black attic alone will have you screaming at your television screen. They really don’t help themselves, do they?

3. Heather, Michael and Joshua in The Blair Witch Project

The Blair Witch Project tells the story of three student filmmakers, Heather, Michale and Joshua, who hike in the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland in order to film a documentary about a local legend: the Blair Witch. Brave or stupid? Nope, definitely stupid. Why on Earth would you put yourself through that?

4. The parents in Orphan

Any character in a scary film choosing to trust the token creepy child is an automatic goner. I’m sorry, but you’re going to go to an orphanage and choose the most ominous little girl who’s alone in a room painting a picture? Dead and dead. Husband and wife Kate and John Coleman should have known they were in for trouble when the head of the orphanage warned that bad things happen when Esther is around, but they refused to listen. Next thing you know, they’ve got a murderous 33-year-old stuck inside a child’s body loose in their home. Whoops.

5. The couple at the beginning of American Horror Story: Asylum

Listen, whatever floats your boat, but don’t go to an old haunted asylum for a night of bedroom action and expect to return alive. The beginning of the second series of American Horror Story begins with Leo Morrison and his wife exploring the decrepit Briarcliff Manor. After getting steamy in the asylum, the pair end up getting murdered by the villain of the series Bloody Face. Go for dinner next time, maybe.

6. Annie in It Follows

Here we have an example of the horror film cliché that baffles just about everyone: the woman running away in heels. Take them off for goodness sake! The opening of It Follows sees a young woman running outside her house onto the streets in terror… in pink stiletto heels. Honestly, heels are tricky at the best of times, let alone when you’re trying to escape a supernatural entity. And surprise, surprise. When morning comes, Annie has been violently killed. If only she’d worn some trainers.

So, there’s a round up of some of the dumbest moves pulled in horror television history. And that’s just to name a few – the genre has some rich pickings. Which victims do you think should be on the list?

The Top 10 wicked watches on Amazon Prime this Halloween

If you’re looking for something spooky to stream this Halloween, don’t worry because Amazon Prime definitely has you covered. From old creepy classics to spine-chilling modern day releases, you… read more

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The Top 10 wicked watches on Amazon Prime this Halloween

If you’re looking for something spooky to stream this Halloween, don’t worry because Amazon Prime definitely has you covered. From old creepy classics to spine-chilling modern day releases, you can kick back and get royally freaked out in time for this scary season.

With such a wide range of choices to pick from, TVGuide.co.uk has selected our top 10 favourite picks for you to sink those vampire fangs into:

1. Lucifer

What better way to get spooked out this Halloween than with the devil himself, in this brilliantly absurd drama series. Desiring a career break from being the Lord of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar resigns his throne and retires to the City of Angels, where he teams up with an LAPD detective to solve crimes. Although disturbed by his strange suppressed desire to punish the wicked, Lucifer ends up finding his new role just a bit too enjoyable to stop.

2. The Exorcist

Scare yourself senseless with this 1973 classic in which an exorcism is performed on a 12-year-old girl possessed by the devil. The work has stood the test of time as one of the best horror films ever, and is a must-see purely for those iconic possession scenes.

3. The Walking Dead

Obviously, it isn’t Halloween unless you chuck some zombies into the mix. And The Walking Dead certainly has plenty of those. A complete cult favourite, this series follows County Sheriff Rick Grimes, along with a small eclectic group, as they try to survive a zombie apocalypse… among other threats.

4. Constantine

And if The Walking Dead doesn’t tickle your fancy, maybe this supernatural series will get your pulses racing this Halloween. Constantine tells the story of a seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult named John Constantine, who is armed with a dangerous knowledge of the dark arts. With the balance of good and evil on the line‎, can Constantine utilise his skills to send these threatening supernatural terrors back to where they belong?

5. The Conjuring

This terrifyingly good film kept viewers up at night when it was released in 2013. Based on a true story, this creepy tale follows two world renowned paranormal investigators as they are called to assist a family terrorised by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse. Brace yourself. It’s a jumpy one!

6. Sleepy Hollow

Get yourself stuck into this modern-day supernatural thriller based on the legend of Sleepy Hollow. A resurrected Ichabod Crane partners with Sleepy Hollow’s local female sheriff to solve the mysteries of a town torn between good and evil.

7. BrainDead

If you need a bit of laughter to make the horror easier to swallow, then this comic-thriller could be your perfect Halloween show. Newly released this year, this series follows Laurel, a fresh-faced Hill staffer as makes two revelations: the government has stopped working, and bugs are eating the brains of Congress members and Hill staffers. Don’t tell us you’re not intrigued…

8. Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride

We know Halloween viewing isn’t always child friendly, but if you’re looking for a spooky film for the whole family to enjoy then Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride is an excellent bet. Both creepy and hilariously funny, this movie tells the chilling tale of Victor, a man who accidentally marries a corpse bride.

9. Ripper Street

After something with a bit more of a historical undertone? Ripper Street is a TV drama series starring Matthew Macfadyen. The detective desperately attempts to maintain the law on the streets of Whitechapel in the wake of the Jack the Ripper murders.

10. Preacher

And finally, why not try out this brand new series based on the popular Preacher comic books? This supernatural drama is packed with dark, twisted comedy and follows a West Texas preacher named Jesse Custer who is inhabited by a strange entity that causes him to develop a particularly unusual power.

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The Best of Halloween TV: What to watch on Monday Fright Night!

Okay, so you probably already celebrated Halloween over the weekend and had the hangover to prove it, but it actually falls on today – a lowly, disappointing Monday – this year.

Dressing up in costume and painting the town (blood) red probably doesn’t appeal quite as much for most of us with the prospect of a day’s work the next day, so we’ve compiled the perfect way to spend the spooky evening at home in front of your TV.

Close the curtains, help yourself to that bowl of “Trick or Treat” sweets your housemate bought for passing children and prepare for a night of television terror with these telly treats.

The Best of Television

Dark Angel, ITV, 9pmDownton Abbey‘s Anna is as you’ve never seen her before, as actress Joanne Froggatt takes the lead role of Victorian serial killer Mary Ann Cotton in this grim two-part adaptation of real-life events. There’s murder, money, and complete madness as Cotton descends into repeated dark, homicidal rampages.

The Walking Dead, FOX, 9pm

If you weren’t one of those fans threatening to quit The Walking Dead after last week’s psychological horror gore fest, then you’re in for a treat with this week’s offering. After learning what became of Rick and the potential Lucille victims last week, we move onto what’s been going on with Carol and Morgan – who were last seen wounded and approached by strangers.

Derren Brown Presents Twisted Tales, Channel 4, 11.05pm

Think you’re a horror fan? Maybe you won’t be so sure after you’ve seen what Derren Brown has in store for those who are. Three self-confessed horror lovers are abandoned in a terrifying and anxiety-inducing world of illusions, created with inspiration from some of the genre’s greats with terrifying accuracy by the master Derren Brown.

The Best of Films

V/H/S, Horror Channel, 10.45pm

The only thing scary about VHS tapes in the modern day and age is the picture quality, am I right? Spoiler: I’m not. In this anthology of genuinely freaky mini-films, a gang of criminals decide to watch some abandoned VHS tapes found in a home they’re robbing. The ensuing short films will have something to scare every housemate, including murder, ritual exorcism and ghostly children.

Scream, W, 12.15am

If you’ve gotten to the part of the night when it’s technically not Halloween anymore, W has a screening of the acclaimed satirical horror film Scream on offer. High school students get violently murdered for failing to answer horror trivia questions correctly in this clever examination of horror tropes.

The Best of On-Demand

Lucifer, Amazon Instant Video

Who could forget Tom Ellis’ sexy rendition of the Devil himself this Halloween? After a pumped season one finale last year, in which Lucifer was fatally shot and had to pray to Daddy for rebirth, he returns to his usual gig of consulting for the LAPD in a murder case involving a popular tween idol.

Black Mirror, Netflix

Technically Black Mirror was released last week, but you’re going to want to watch the second episode of the series ‘Playtest’ if you like mind-boggling horror thrillers. This episode takes the whole Haunted House experience you can pay £20 odd quid for and turns it on its head, leaving you quite unsure of what has happened, where you are or even who you are by the end.

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The 5 best telly depictions of the Devil

Amazon’s Lucifer is back and to celebrate, we’re featuring the best telly depictions of Hell’s Main Man himself.

Now, the silver screen is probably better known than television for churning out haunting and memorable depictions of the Devil himself. Who can forget Robert De Niro’s depiction in Angel Heart? And is it just us or was Jack Nicholson born to play Daryl Van Horne aka the Devil in The Witches of Eastwick?

But that’s not to say television hasn’t created some, er, alternative approaches to the original fallen angel…

1. Doctor Who – “The Beast”

Back in 2006, Doctor Who went for a decidedly less sexy version of Satan – presenting him as a monstrous demon known as “The Beast” that had been alive since before the beginning of time itself. Despite this advanced age, The Beast put technophobes to shame by working his magic through computer voices and holograms, as well as showing off his possession party trick.

2. South Park – “Satan”

South Park‘s depiction of Satan clearly spent a lot of time in the gym, judging by his buff physique. He’s also openly gay and at one point dated the abusive Saddam Hussein (South Park’s really not a show for the politically correct). He is generally portrayed as a good guy who occasionally attempts to take over over the world.

3. Ashes to Ashes – Jim Keats

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Keats was an altogether more serious depiction of the Devil, who acted through a human body to wreak havoc and bring down DCI Gene Hunt and the Fenchurch East division of the Greater London Metropolitan Police. While Keats didn’t do much in terms of flashing his supernatural abilities, his character did possess the macabre traits associated with Satan, being sadistic, violent and manipulative.

4. The Powerpuff Girls – “HIM”

It’s never explicitly stated that the camp baddie from The Powerpuff Girls is Satan, but look at the way he’s dressed. Seriously. HIM’s main objective was to take over the world, and his skills included possession, brainwashing and telepathy. Unfortunately he frequently found himself out of his depth facing three little girls with a curfew.

5. Lucifer – “Lucifer Morningstar”

Tom Ellis’ Lucifer is simultaneously everything we always and never imagined the devil to be: sexy, suave and… consulting with the LAPD? To be honest, if we think too much about Lucifer’s career choices our heads begin to hurt, so let’s focus on what this version can do. This Devil is able to make himself irresistible to women (fair) and uncover the deep, dark nature of possible criminals – oh yes.

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Honey G receives death threats after surviving another week on the X Factor

Honey G has received frightening death threats on Twitter after making it through to yet another round of the X Factor live shows.

She may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but certain viewers of the X Factor have taken things too far after sending out threatening tweets claiming they want to “stab” or “shoot” the contestant.

Sunday’s result show saw another surprise departure after Gifty Louise was forced to leave the competition. Yet again, controversial rapper Honey G sailed through into the next week without so much as coming near the bottom two.

The result caused quite some backlash, with many viewers questioning why big talents keep leaving the competition whilst acts such as Honey G are allowed to stay.

However, some Twitter users actually resorted to physical threats during the aftermath of the show:

One of the violent posts read: “someone come with me and stab that ‘honey g’ from X factor“, whilst another user wrote: “…please will someone shoot her!”.

There was even one alarming tweet that directly tagged Honey G’s official account, telling her to “kill yourself”.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of the singing contestant, but surely these kind of death threats are just too far?

Honey G performed her rendition of Will Smith’s “Men In Black” for the Halloween special on Saturday, which began with a breaking news piece about reported UFOs:

Now that Gifty has been eliminated, only eight contestants remain fighting for the 2016 winning title. The final eight will be taking on girlband and boyband hits in next week’s show, after the spinning jukebox landed on the theme ‘Girlband vs. Boyband’. And it’s all level pegging at the moment, as Nicole Scherzinger, Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne now all only have two acts left in each in their categories.

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X Factor’s Gifty Louise claims she never had a real chance of surviving the sing-off

Gifty Louise has revealed that she feels the judges “had already made up their mind” about who they wanted to save before this week’s X Factor sing-off.

Gifty found herself facing the sing-off alongside girl group Four of Diamonds last night (Sunday), after both acts received the lowest number of viewer votes.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, however, the singer admitted that she never really had a fighting chance of staying.

The 20-year-old confessed: “I feel like the judges had already made up their mind.”

Gifty also explained how she felt Simon Cowell’s song choice was largely at fault for her exit: “I feel like I was consistent every single week, but I wasn’t confident about the song choice.

“I didn’t feel too great about doing a third Fifth Harmony song, I was worried it would be too predictable.”

She continued: “I am grateful for the opportunity. I made it to the final three girls, so I am chuffed.

“I was hoping to get on tour. This is serious for me. I want to get a career out of it.”

When asked for her opinion on controversial contestant Honey G, Gifty insisted that she did not hold any resentment towards the rapper for still being in the competition: “She is an entertainer and people have fun when they watch her.

“She has a huge fanbase and I’m not surprised she made it through. I don’t hold it against her.”

Viewers were shocked when Gifty lost her place on the show, with three out of the four judges voting to save Four of Diamonds in the sing-off.

But the show must go on, and now the remaining contestants will have to tackle the jukebox-selected theme of ‘Girlband vs. Boyband’ for the next round of the live shows. It is anyone’s game now that all of the judges have suffered losses from their categories… Who will be the next to go?

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Viewers outraged after the shock exit of X Factor favourite

Fans of the X Factor have criticised the show after Gifty Louise was selected by judges to leave the competition.

Yesterday night (Sunday), Gifty Louise was forced to exit the X Factor live shows after being voted into the bottom two alongside girl group Four of Diamonds.

Despite a soulful and heartfelt performance of “A Song Four You” by Leon Russell, viewers at home were shocked when Nicole Scherzinger, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne all opted to send the singer home.

Gifty looked completely shell-shocked upon receiving the news about her elimination, and struggled to speak to host Dermot O’Leary, simply stating that she “doesn’t know” when asked why she was in the bottom two.

Simon Cowell took the blame for his act being in the sing-off, admitting it was his fault for choosing the Fifth Harmony single, “I’m in Love With a Monster”.

He said: “It was my mistake Gifty.

“I should never have given you this song. You should not be out of the competition at this point. It’s not you it’s me.”

He added: “When you have an opportunity like this you have to grow from this and get tough and you’re a real talent Gifty and a great person, so do not give up.”

The people watching seemed as upset as Gifty was, as the result was met with boos from the live audience. Outraged Twitter users also questioned why such a big talent was chosen to leave the competition:

WHY DID GIFTY GET EVICTED FROM THE X FACTOR?!?!? WHATS GOING ON😵!!!!! #XFactor

The remaining contestants will be returning this weekend to perform songs for ‘Girlband vs. Boyband’ Week. Having performed in the sing-off two weeks running, will it be third time lucky for girl group Four of Diamonds with a theme more in their comfort zone?

5 Reasons the Cold Feet revival was a success and how to WIN the new series on DVD!

Thirteen years after the BAFTA award-winning series earned a place in television history, Cold Feet returned this year for more heartfelt, truthful, comedy drama amidst the lives of our favourite couples. Older, but not… read more

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5 Reasons the Cold Feet revival was a success and how to WIN the new series on DVD!

Thirteen years after the BAFTA award-winning series earned a place in television history, Cold Feet returned this year for more heartfelt, truthful, comedy drama amidst the lives of our favourite couples.

Older, but not necessarily wiser, the gang were reunited when Adam (James Nesbitt) returned to Manchester in this new series. The show follows the highs and lows of these much loved characters as they, like us, continue to find their way in life.

It is with trepidation viewers watch revivals of their favourite television shows, as transplanting the feeling of a loved programme into a new period is no easy task. However, the recent return of Cold Feet was an utter triumph, receiving enthusiastic reviews from critics and fans alike. In fact, it impressed so much that the programme has even been commissioned for another series in 2017.

How did the show manage to keep its old spark alive? Here are 5 reasons why we think Cold Feet is still such a success:

1. The group are still the same Cold Feet gang that we know and love

The chemistry between the show’s five lead characters seemed just as strong as it was when we left them a whole thirteen years ago, lending the show a wonderful nostalgic feel. Jenny was as blunt and hilarious as ever, David remained his loveable self and the dynamic between the group felt natural and unchanged.

2. …But no one was pretending that time hadn’t moved on

There was no pretence that the show might be able to pick up where they had left off, but rather the gang carried over a decade of fresh baggage, presenting all the hopes and fears a 50-something-year-old might have. And the middle-aged perspective never dulled the drama down – the characters may be middle-aged but they are still very much young at heart!

3. The show’s ability to make us laugh and cry

What made Cold Feet so special was always its execution of a perfect balance between the heartfelt and the humorous, and everyone was pleased to see that this still remained intact. Not many shows would be able to inspire laughter during a suicide bid or a failed euthanasia attempt, yet somehow Cold Feet manages to do it. The script is as wonderfully light-hearted as it is heavy hitting, and that’s why we love it so much.

4. Throwbacks to the old episodes

Despite the loss of original group member Rachel, there were still plenty of references to her character, as well as to the previous episodes. When Adam re-visits the house where he lived with Rachel, Cold Feet fans were able to take a trip down memory lane alongside the characters as they reminisced on the old times together.

5. That fantastic ending

The new series really went out with a bang! Packed with wedding proposals, an emotional coming out and even a hostage situation, fans couldn’t have asked for a better ending to a brilliant show revival.

And here’s the best bit: To celebrate the release of Cold Feet on DVD today (October 31), we’re offering TVGuide.co.uk users the chance to win one of three DVD boxsets!

For your chance to win, all you have to do is answer the simple question below correctly and leave the email address at which you would like to be contacted.

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X Factor’s Nicole Scherzinger opens up about her split with Lewis Hamilton

X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger has revealed details on her split from ex-boyfriend Lewis Hamilton, admitting that she is no longer in contact with the Formula 1 racer.

The former Pussycat Doll ended her eight year relationship with Lewis in 2015, but has now finally spoken up about how she is feeling since the separation.

Speaking on TheJonathan Ross Show, Nicole insisted that she still wishes her ex-partner “happiness” and “success”.

She said: “I don’t see anything negative, I think it’s quite natural when people separate and go their own ways and you just have to be adult about it and just always wish the other person happiness, success and love like sincerely and I do.”

When questioned about whether the pair still stay in touch, the singer responded: “Yeah we don’t, like, talk. I think that he is the best driver since Ayrton Senna and I think that he’s probably going to win this year and I only wish him happiness and success.”

Scherzy also talked about how she has succeeded in finding a balance between work and her personal life.

She explained: “I think I’ve probably matured a little later in relationships and living my life because I started at such a young age then being in a rock group then being in a pop group then being in [groups and bands].

“I was in my first group when I was 18 so I think I was always so focused on working so much so I didn’t have much time for relationships.”

She added: “So I feel like I was just able to get to experience things a little later after work because as you get older, you find more balance in life.

“Relationships and most importantly a relationship with myself, if it’s not too cheesy to say, as women it goes with experience and age.”

Nicole concluded by preaching the importance of self-love in any relationship: “This is who I am and this is what I love and I think it’s really important if you are in a relationship, no matter who you are, you have to be happy first and love yourself first and be whole before you can really give your everything in a relationship.”